1974 - ASSA Bloemfontein Centre

January 17th, 1974, Residence of Mr. D. P. de Leeuw, at 8pm.
It was suggested that some of the centres meetings be held at the observatory. Then, after the conclusion of the meeting, members could do some observing of the stars through the telescopes. The chairman mentioned that the centre was in possession of a gaslight which would be suitable for use at such a meeting
Mr. Rhodes advised that he had met a member of the "Kultuurraad". He said that they were interested in the activities of the centre and that they would assist us in obtaining colour slides and films and perhaps give financial aid.
A letter was received from MNASSA in which they requested that news of the activities of the centre be forwarded to them for publication. The secretary was requested to forward copies of the centre's news letter to MNASSA.
There being nothing to discuss the meeting was handed to Mr. de Leeuw for an interesting talk on Spectra, as a paper for discussion.

Februarie 14de, 1974, Huis van Mnr Muller, om 8nm.
Met verwysings na vorige besprekings is besluit om die volgende vergadering op 14 April by die sterrewag te hou. 'n Braaivleis is voorgestel.
Mnr. Rhodes verwittig dat die Kultuurraad 'n aantal films beskikbaar gestel het vir vertoning. Hulle het ook die Oudetorium van die Nasinale Museum in die hande gekry vir 'n aand vir die vertoning van hierdie films. Daar is besluit om die films op die volgende vergadering op Donderdag 1 Maart 1974 te vertoon. Die publiek sal ook uitgenooi word. Mnr. Rhodes sal sy teleskoop vir 'n uitstalling om belangstellendes te wys hoe 'n goeie teleskoop lyk beskikbaar stel.
Mnr. Rhodes bied aan om van sy vriende by "The Friend" te kontak vir die advertering van bg. vertoning. Die Volksblad moet ook genader word.
Skrywes is weereens vanaf Kaapstad ontvang in sake die Forbes opstel wedstryd en die voorsitter versoek die sekretaris om 'n afskrif hievan aan skoolhoofde van elke skool in Bloemfontein stuur.
Mnr. Muller lewer hierna 'n baie interresante praatjie oor komete waarna hy hartlik bedank is.

March 12th, 1974, Auditorium of the National Museum Bloemfontein, at 8pm.
It was decided that our next meeting will be held at the observatory with a braai and afterwards observations through the telescopes.
A special word of thanks was extended to the Kultuurraad who obtained the films and auditorium for the evening as well as the press and radio for advertising the film show.
The meeting was thereafter concluded for some very interesting films with the following subjects: Measuring the Universe, Exploring the Universe, Meteors and Comets, Space Science and Planets, Apollo 11. It was a very successful evening and it was estimated that about 200 people had attended the filmshow.

April 11de, 1974, Woning van Mnr. G. N. Walker, Vilonelstraat 39, om 8nm.
Die beplande braaivleis wat gehou sou word by die sterrewag was in die wiele gery deur reën weer en daar is dus besluit om 'n braaivleis later in die jaar te hou sodra die weer warmer is.
Die voorsitter stel voor dat 'n sikulêre opgestel word vir die uitreiking van alle skole in Bloemfontein om ons Vereniging aan hulle bekennd te stel en aan te bied om sterreaande vir leerlinge aan te bied.
Die voorsitter versoek die sekretaris om briewe van waardering te rig aan die volgende instansies na aanleiding van ons suksesvolle filmvertoning in die Ouditorium van die Nasionale Museum:
Mnr. du Plessis van die Departement van Kultuursake.
Die Direkteur van die Nasionale Museum.
Mnr. van Ryneveldt van die Redaksie van die Volksblad.
Die SAUK
Mnr. Muller meld voorts dat die Departement van Kultuursake bereid is om die lopende koste van die vereniging te help dra soos tikwerk, afrolwerk ens. Mnr. Walker stel voor dat die vereniging boeke aankoop en dit aan die biblioteek skenk, waar dit dan deur die lede uitgeneem kan word. So hou die biblioteek dan die verantwoordelikheid vir die hou van die boeke. Hy sê dat hy Mev. Harris van die bilioteek hieroor sal nader. Verder word voorgestel dat ons minstens 4 keer 'n jaar film vertonings moet hou. Mnr. Rhodes sal Mnr. du Plessis hieroor moet nader.
'n Brief is van Kaapstad ontvang waarin genoem word dat hulle teleskope kan uitleen aan verenigings wat dit kan gebruik. Aangesien ons nie daarin belang stel nie sal die voorsitter hierop antwoord. 'n Brief is ook vanaf Oos Duitsland ontvang waarin navraag gedoen word na die aktiwiteite van die SA verenigings. Die voorsitter versoek die sekretaris om die brief na Kaapstad te verwys asook 'n erkenning van ontvangs aan die afsender te stuur.
Mnr. Prinsloo speel daarna 'n praatjie wat op band opgeneem is aan ons voor oor die baie interresante tema: Sonvlekke.

May 16th, 1974, Residence of Mr. P. Erasmus, at 8pm.
Mr. Muller suggested a program being followed in connection with the studying of double stars, variable stars as well as solar observations. Mr. de Leeuw was requested to make a projection screen for solar observations.
Mr. de Leeuw advised that the "KJV" of Bainsvlei consisting of 20 members were interested in the activities of our centre as well as visiting our observatory. The chairman asked him to advise them that they must contact him when it is convenient for them to go to the observatory.
Mr. Rhodes advised that the Department of Cultural Affairs finally decided that they would aid us in obtaining our own library. It was decided that the books be kept in the offices of the department. Mr. Rhodes said that he will contact Mr. du Plessis in connection with more films. The secretary was requested to advise ASSA headquarters in connection with the aid rendered by the Dept. of Cultural affairs.
Mr. de Leeuw advised that he received an invitation from UNISA, Pretoria inviting members to visit their observatory when going to Pretoria.
A special word of thanks was extended to Mr. Erasmus who donated his 10 inch Casegrain and observatory to the club. The following members will investigate the movement of the observatory to Brandkop: Messrs. se Leeuw, Erasmus, Mahaffey.

Julie 13de, 1974, Woning van mnr. G. J. J. Linde, om 8nm.
Die voorsitter versoek die sekretaris om met mnr. Rhodes in aanraking te kom insake 'n film vertoning in Julie met ons Algemene Jaarvergadering.
Na aanleiding van die donasie van Mnr. Erasmus aan die vereniging in die form van 'n 10 duim Casegrain teleskoop en 'n sterrewag, verwittig mnr. de Leeuw dat hy en mnre. Erasmus en Mahaffey die moontlikheid van die verskuiwing van die sterrewag na Brandkop ondersoek het maar dit blyk onmoontlik te wees aangesien die gebou nie uit mekaar gehaal kan word nie. Die voorsitter stel dus voor dat die Casegrain verskuif word na ons sterrewag en dat die 9 3/8 duim teleskoop verkoop word vir R150 aan nie-lede en R100 aan lede.
Nulen Olivier lees daarna 'n interressante stuk voor oor meteoriete.

Augustus 15de, Algemene Jaarvergadering, Woning van mnr. G. J. Muller, om 8nm.
Die volgende lede is tot die vereniging herkies:
Voorsitter: Mnr. G. J. Muller
Ondervoorsitter: Mnr. J. Rhodes
Ere sekretaris/penningmeester: Mnr. F. Neser
Komiteelede: G. N. Walker en D. P. de Leeuw.
Bankbalans: R59,00.
Die voorsitter se verslag:
'n Kort maar prikkelende verslag word daarna deur die voorsitter mnr. Walker gelewer waarin hy noem dat die belangstelling van die lede in die vergaderings goed is maar die gebruik van die sterrewag word nog steeds agterweë gelaat. Die vereniging se pogings om nuwe lede te trek is sterk ondersteun deur die Dept. van Kultuursake wat films beskikbaar gestel het vir vertoning aan lede van die publiek. Die reaksie was egter sover maar teleurstellend.
As gevolg van die bekwame leiding van Mnr. Walker is okkultasies geesdriftig deur lede aangepak. Daar was egter slegs een suksevolle okkultasie terwyl die res wat aangepak is deur slegte weer in die wiele gery is.
Verder het die Dept. van Kultuursake hulle bereid verklaar om 'n biblioteek vir die lede in hulle kantoor te hou.
Mnr. Muller verwittig ook dat hy 'n slypmasjien wat deur Mnr. Erasmus aan hom geskenk het gemodifeer het en lede wat lus is om spieëls te slyp is welkom om die masjien te gebruik.
Daarna het hy die bestuurslede bedank vir hulle ondersteuning die afgelope jaar.

September 12th, 1974, Residence of Mr. D. P. de Leeuw, at 8pm.
Mr. de Leeuw demonstrated a solarscreen which was constructed by him as was requested on the meeting of the 16th May 1974. The solar screen should be used in conjunction with graph paper to enable one to plot the positions of the sunspots as the sun rotates on its axis. The chairman thanked Mr. de Leeuw for his effort.
The chairman requested the secretary to arrange for another film show in November. Mr. Walker advised that there will be two occultations in October that is on the 20th and 24th. Discussion was put of until the next meeting.
Talk by a member: The secretary read a paper on comet hunting in Southern Skies which was written by J. C. Bennet of Pretoria.
Discussion on installing the 10 inch Casegrain in the observatory was put off due to the absence of Mr. Erasmus. It was decided not to sell the 9 3/8 inch Newtonian until the Casegrain is ready to be installed. An offer to the amount of R1,50 was made by Mr. Prinsloo for the legs of a Theodolite which was originally donated to the centre. The offer was unanimously accepted. Mr. Walker advised the he had obtained information in connection with insuring our observatory and telescopes from "Prucendantal". It was however decided that the premium was to high. Mr. Walker said that he would contact other companies as well.

Oktober 9de, 1974, Woning van Mnr. G. J. Muller, 35 Wilcocksweg, om 8nm.
Met verwysing na die vorige vergadering met betrekking tot die okkultasie van 20 Oktober word daar besluit om dit aan te pak. Die volgende spanne is saamgestel: Mnre. Walker, Rhodes, de Leeuw en GJ muller, en N. Olivier. Daar word ooreengekom om mekaar te ontmoet om 1/2 8 anderkant die klawerbord op die pad na Dewetsdorp.
Mnr. Walker lees hierna 'n stuk voor met betrekking tot die doel van okkultasies.

November 13th, 1974, Residence of Mr. Prinsloo, at 8pm.
Mr. Walker reported that although the wind was strong and impeded with observations, results were obtained from observations of the occultation of the 20th October. He also advised that there would be another occultation the 19th November 1974, 23 miles form Bloemfontein on the Dewetsdorp road at 10/30pm. The star is 6.2 magnitude and the moon is 13 degrees above the horizon and 30% sunlit. The following members will attend the occultation: Mrsrs. Muller, Erasmus, de Leeuw, Prinsloo, Walker, Rhodes, Mahaffey.
After discussion of the removal of tube and mounting of the Casegrain Mr. Muller and Erasmus decided to fetch it from Mr. Erasmus's observatory. The final corrections of the 10 inch mirror will be done on Mr. Muller's polishing machine.
A copy of the minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 3 September was received but discussion in connection with a paragraph regarding the future of MNASSA was put off until the next meeting.